Trump says violence against people of all faiths must end

President Donald Trump speaks during a National Day of Prayer dinner gathering in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says people of faith around the world have faced terrible hardship of late.

Trump says violence and terrorism against people of all faiths must end, and that "all civilized nations must join together in this effort."

Trump spoke Wednesday to faith leaders at a White House dinner in honor of the National Day of Prayer, an event that takes place Thursday.

Trump paid respects to Jewish-Americans killed and wounded last week at the Chabad of Poway synagogue in California. He also recalled the attacks on Christians in Sri Lanka last Easter and on Muslims in New Zealand the month before.

He also cited the burning of three black churches in Louisiana and last year's shooting spree at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

Mosques are going up, women are covering up and bars, restaurants and shops selling alcoholic beverages are shutting down in a changing Algeria where, slowly but surely, Muslim fundamentalists are gaining ground